Loading unit locking collar with rotational actuated release

ABSTRACT

A loading unit includes a shell assembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has an annular ring that defines a locking slot and a proximal opening. The proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portion of the surgical instrument. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ring. The locking collar has a body including a flexible tab that has an inwardly extending lock. The locking collar is moveable about the annular ring between a locked and unlocked configuration. In the locked configuration, the lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annular ring. In the unlocked configuration, the body of the locking collar is rotated about the annular ring from the locked configuration to move the lock from within the proximal opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Divisional Application which claims thatbenefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/859,590,filed on Sep. 21, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to surgical staplinginstruments. More specifically, the present disclosure relates tocircular surgical stapling instruments including replaceable loadingunits.

2. Background of Related Art

Surgical stapling instruments configured to join tissue portions duringa surgical procedure are well known. These instruments include linearend effectors which are oriented parallel or transverse to alongitudinal axis of the instrument as well as circular end effectors.Typically, linear stapling instruments include a disposable loading unitor a replaceable cartridge that allows the stapling instrument to beused multiple times. However, conventional circular stapling instrumentsinclude a cartridge or shell assembly that is typically fixedly attachedto the instrument such that the instrument must be disposed of after asingle use. Some circular stapling instruments include a cartridge orshell assembly that is replaceable.

A need exists in the art for a simple, inexpensive instrument forreleasably securing a cartridge or shell assembly to a circular staplinginstrument to facilitate reuse of the stapling instrument.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a loading unit includes a shellassembly and a locking collar. The shell assembly has an annular ringthat defines a proximal opening that is configured to receive a distalend portion of a surgical instrument. The annular ring defines a lockingslot. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ringand has a body including a flexible tab. The flexible tab includes alock extending inwardly from the flexible tab. The locking collar ismoveable about the annular ring between a locked configuration and anunlocked configuration. In the locked configuration the lock passesthrough the locking slot and into the proximal opening of the annularring. In the unlocked configuration the lock is moved from within theproximal opening. The body may be partially split to form the flexibletab.

In aspects, an outer surface of the annular ring defines a groove andthe locking collar includes an inwardly extending travel rib that isreceived within the groove. The travel rib may limit a degree ofrotation of the locking collar about the annular ring.

In some aspects, the loading unit includes a retention ring that ispositioned about the annular ring proximal of the locking collar toprevent axial movement of the locking collar from relative to theannular ring. The retention ring may include a plurality of inwardlyextending retention tabs and the annular ring may define a plurality ofretention slots positioned proximally of the locking slot. Each of theplurality of retention slots may be configured to receive a respectiveretention tab to fix the retention ring to the annular ring.

In certain aspects, the flexible tab is resilient and is positioned tourge the locking collar to the locked configuration. The lock may have alongitudinal cam surface and a radial cam surface. The radial camsurface may be positioned to engage the annular ring to move the lockoutward in response to rotation of the body of the locking collar inrelation to the annular ring towards the unlocked configuration. Theradial cam surface may be positioned to engage the annular ring suchthat resiliency of the flexible tab causes the radial cam surface tourge the locking collar towards the locked configuration when the lockand the locking slot are misaligned.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical system includesa surgical instrument, a loading unit, and a locking collar. Thesurgical instrument includes a distal end portion that defines a lockingwindow. The loading unit includes a shell assembly having an annularring defining a proximal opening and a locking slot. The distal endportion of the surgical instrument is received within the proximalopening. The locking collar is rotatably disposed about the annular ringto secure the loading unit to the distal end portion of the surgicalinstrument. The locking collar has a body that includes a flexible tab.The flexible tab has a lock that extends inward from the flexible tab.The locking collar is moveable about the annular ring between a lockedconfiguration and an unlocked configuration. In the locked configurationthe lock passes through the locking slot of the annular ring and thelocking window of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument tosecure the locking collar to the distal end portion of the surgicalinstrument. In the unlocked configuration the lock is moved from withinthe locking window to release the loading unit from the distal endportion of the surgical instrument.

In aspects, the annular ring includes a key that extends into theproximal opening. The distal end portion of the surgical instrument maydefine a keyway. The key is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shellassembly and the keyway is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distalend portion of the surgical instrument. The key is received within thekeyway to rotatably fix the loading unit to the distal end portion ofthe surgical instrument.

In some aspects, the lock has a longitudinal cam surface. A distal endof the surgical instrument may be configured to engage the longitudinalcam surface to move the lock outward as the distal end portion of thesurgical instrument is received within the proximal opening until thelocking window is aligned with the locking slot of the annular ring. Thelock may have radial cam surface that engages the annular ring inresponse to rotation of the body of the locking collar about the annularring to transition the locking collar to the unlocked configuration.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of securing aloading unit to a surgical instrument includes aligning a proximalannular ring of the loading unit with a distal end portion of thesurgical instrument, sliding the annular ring over the distal endportion of the surgical instrument, and continuing to slide the loadingunit over the distal end portion until a locking window defined in thedistal end portion of the surgical instrument is aligned with a locksuch that resilience of a flexible tab move the lock into the lockingwindow to secure the loading unit to the surgical instrument. The distalend of the surgical instrument engages the lock of the locking collar asthe annular ring is slid over the distal end portion of the surgicalinstrument.

In aspects, the method includes releasing the loading unit from thedistal end portion of the surgical instrument. The loading unit isreleased by rotating the locking collar about the annular ring to movethe lock from within the locking window and sliding the loading unit offof the distal end portion of the surgical instrument. Rotating thelocking collar about the annular ring may engage a radial cam surface ofthe lock with the annular ring to lift the lock from within the lockingwindow. The locking collar may be released after sliding the loadingunit off of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument such thatthe radial cam surface engages the annular ring to rotate the lockingcollar about the annular ring in response to residence of the flexibletab.

In some aspects, aligning the proximal ring of the loading unit with thedistal end portion of the surgical instrument includes radially aligninga key of the loading unit with a keyway defined in the distal endportion of the surgical instrument. Sliding the annular ring over thedistal end portion of the surgical instrument may include sliding thekey into the keyway of the surgical instrument.

Further, to the extent consistent, any of the aspects described hereinmay be used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspectsdescribed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow withreference to the drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a circular stapling adapter with aloading unit releasably coupled in accordance with the presentdisclosure to a distal end of the circular stapling adapter;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a circular stapling surgical instrumentwith the loading unit of FIG. 1A releasably coupled to a distal end ofthe surgical instrument;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1A with the loadingunit decoupled from the adapter;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view with parts separated of the loading unit ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shell assembly of the loading unit ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking collar of the loading unit ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the loading unit andthe distal end portion of the adapter taken along the section line 6-6of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 7-7 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 8-8 ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the distal end portionof the adapter of FIG. 2 partially received within an annular ring ofthe loading unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 10-10 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the distal end portionof the adapter of

FIG. 2 received within an annular ring of the loading unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 12-12 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 13-13 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 14-14 ofFIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the loading unit of FIG. 2 disposedover the distal end portion of the adapter with the locking collarrotated to an unlocked configuration;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 16-16 ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line 17-17 ofFIG. 15; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the loading unit of FIG. 15 releasedfrom the distal end portion of the adapter with the locking collarreturned to the locked configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure are now described in detail withreference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. Asused herein, the term “clinician” refers to a doctor, a nurse, or anyother care provider and may include support personnel. Throughout thisdescription, the term “proximal” refers to the portion of the device orcomponent thereof that is closest to the clinician and the term “distal”refers to the portion of the device or component thereof that isfarthest from the clinician.

This disclosure relates generally to a loading unit including a lockingcollar that releasably secures the loading unit to a distal end of asurgical instrument or adapter for a surgical instrument. The lockingcollar is rotatably disposed about the loading unit and includes a lockthat has a longitudinal cam surface and a radial cam surface. Thelongitudinal cam surface is engaged by a distal end of the surgicalinstrument as the locking collar is slid over the surgical instrument toflex a flexible tab supporting a lock of the locking collar outward.When the loading unit is fully received on the distal end of thesurgical instrument, a locking window of the loading unit becomesaligned with the lock. When this occurs, the resilience of the flexibletab causes the lock to move into the locking window to secure theloading unit to the distal end of the surgical instrument. The lockingcollar can be rotated about the loading unit such that the radial camsurface engages the loading unit to flex the flexible tab outwardlyuntil the lock is removed from the locking window of the surgicalinstrument to release the loading unit from the distal end of thesurgical instrument.

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a loading unit 10 is provided inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The loading unit10 is configured for selective connection to a powered hand heldelectromechanical instrument (not shown) via an adapter 102 of asurgical instrument. Alternatively, the loading unit 10 can beconfigured for connection directly to a manually actuated handleassembly or stapling instrument 700 (FIG. 1B) such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,789,737 (“the '737 Patent”), which is incorporated herein byreference. In the illustrated embodiment, the loading unit 10 isreleasably coupled to a distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 andincludes a staple cartridge 12 (FIG. 3), a shell assembly 20, and alocking collar 40. The loading unit 10 may also include an anvil 400(FIG. 1B). The adapter 102 is configured to translate movement of anactuator of the stapling instrument, e.g., an electromechanical actuator(not shown), to actuate the shell assembly 20 to suture and cut tissue(not shown). A proximal end 104 of the adapter 102 is attachable to thestapling instrument to actuate the staple cartridge 12. It iscontemplated that the proximal end 104 of the adapter 102 may beattached to a manually actuated instrument such as described in the '737Patent to actuate the staple cartridge 12.

For a detailed description of the structure and function of an exemplaryadapter and loading unit, please refer to commonly owned U.S.Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/066,518, filed Oct. 21,2014, entitled “Adapter, Extension, and Connector Assemblies forSurgical Devices.” For a detailed description of the structure andfunction of an exemplary electromechanical instrument, please refer tocommonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/484,975, filed on May31, 2012, now published as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0253329.Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

Referring to FIG. 2, the distal end portion 110 of surgical instrument,e.g., the adapter 102, defines a locking window 112. The locking window112 passes through the outer surface of the distal end portion 110 ofthe adapter 102 and is spaced-apart from a distal end 110 a of theadapter 102. The distal end portion 110 may also define a keyway 114(FIG. 6) that extends from the distal end 110 a of the adapter 102parallel to a longitudinal axis of the adapter 102.

Referring also to FIG. 3, the loading unit 10 includes a shell assembly20, a locking collar 40, and a retention ring 60. The shell assembly 20has a proximal recessed annular ring 22 that defines a cylindricalopening 21 for receiving the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102and a distal end 32 that defines a receptacle 34 (FIG. 6) for receivingand supporting the staple cartridge 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the annular ring 22 of the shell assembly 20is sized to be received through the locking collar 40 and the retentionring 60. In embodiments, the locking collar 40 has a thickness equal tothe depth of a step 23 defined by the annular ring 22 such that thelocking collar 40 forms a continuous or smooth surface with the outersurface of the shell assembly 20.

The annular ring 22 includes a key 24 and defines a locking slot 26 andretention slots 28. The key 24 is disposed on an inner surface of theannular ring 22 and is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shellassembly 20. As shown, the key 24 is aligned with one of the retentionslots 28; however, it is contemplated that the key 24 may be positionedbetween two retention slots 28.

The locking slot 26 is configured to receive a portion of the lockingcollar 40 to secure the shell assembly 20 to the distal end portion 110of the adapter 102. The locking slot 26 has a substantially rectangularshape and passes between an outer surface and an inner surface of theannular ring 22. The locking slot 26 may be oriented such that the wallsdefining the locking slot 26 are parallel and perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the shell assembly 20. As shown, the locking slot26 substantially opposes the key 24. However, the locking slot 26 andthe key 24 may be adjacent one another or positioned anywhere about theannular ring 22 relative to one another. The locking slot 26 ispositioned between two retention slots 28 and is spaced from a proximalend 36 of the shell assembly 20 such that a proximal end of the lockingslot 26 is further away from the proximal end 36 than a distal end ofthe retention slots 28.

The retention slots 28 are configured to receive a portion of theretention ring 60 to secure the retention ring 60 to the annular ring 22of the shell assembly 20. As shown, the retention slots 28 aresubstantially rectangular in shape and are disposed about the annularring 22. Each of the retention slots 28 are spaced an equal distancefrom the proximal end 36 of the shell assembly 20. As shown, theretention slots 28 are equally spaced about the annular ring 22 (i.e.,at 90° apart); however, it is contemplated that the retention slots 28may be unequally spaced about the annular ring 22 to fix the orientationof the retention ring 60 with the annular ring 22 and/or the lockingcollar 40. Additionally or alternatively, each of the retention slots 28may have a unique shape to fix the orientation of the retention ring 60with the annular ring 22 and/or the locking collar 40.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, an outer surface of the annularring 22 defines a travel groove 29. The travel groove 29 extends fromthe proximal end 36 of the shell assembly 20 in a direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the shell assembly 20. The travel groove 29 hasa radial dimension about the annular ring 22 as described in greaterdetail below.

Referring to FIG. 5, the locking collar 40 is configured to secure theshell assembly 20 to the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102. Thelocking collar 40 has a resilient, cylindrical body 42 that defines acentral opening 43. The body 42 includes a flexible tab 44, a travel rib46, and a lock 50 supported on one end of the flexible tab 44. Thecentral opening 43 is sized to rotatably receive the annular ring 22.The diameter of the central opening 43 is slightly larger than an outerdiameter of the annular ring 22 to allow rotation of the locking collar40 about the annular ring 22 with minimal resistance (e.g., resistancefrom friction) and to prevent excessive movement relative to the annularring 22 due to an excess gap between the body 42 and the annular ring22. The flexible tab 44 defines a cantilever and is formed by partiallysplitting the body 42 with a radial slit 48 and a longitudinal slit 49.The tab 44 may have a width that is approximately half the width of thebody 42 and has a radial dimension in a range of about 45° to about 90°(e.g., about)75°. Alternatively, other configurations are envisioned.

The lock 50 is disposed on an inner surface of the tab 44 adjacent thelongitudinal slit 49 and extends into the central opening 43 of thelocking collar 40. The lock 50 includes a longitudinal cam 52 and aradial cam 54. The longitudinal cam 52 is an angled surface that extendsfrom a proximal side of the lock 50 towards a distal side of the lock 50and towards the center of the central opening 43 to form a proximallyfacing wedge. The radial cam 54 is an angled surface that extends from aside of the lock 50 spaced apart from the longitudinal slit 49 andangles away from the flexible tab towards the longitudinal slit 49 andthe center of the central opening 43 to form a radial wedge facing awayfrom the longitudinal slit 49.

The travel rib 46 extends inward from the inner surface of the body 46and is positioned adjacent the proximal end of the body 42. The travelrib 46 extends approximately halfway across the inner surface of thebody 46 but may extend from the proximal end to the distal end of thebody 42. The travel rib 46 is sized to be received within the travelgroove 29 when the locking collar 40 is disposed about the annular ring22 to limit rotation of the locking collar 40 about the annular ring 22as discussed in greater detail below.

Referring briefly back to FIGS. 2 and 3, the retention ring 60 isconfigured to retain the locking collar 40 over the annular ring 22(i.e., prevent the locking collar 40 from proximally translating off ofthe annular ring 22). The retention ring 60 defines a central opening 62and includes retention tabs 44. The central opening 62 is sized toreceive the annular ring 22. The retention tabs 64 are disposed aboutthe inner surface of the retention ring 60 and include distally facingwedges that are configured to be received within the retention slots 28of the annular ring 22 to radially fix the retention ring 60 to theannular ring 22 and to prevent the retention ring 60 from proximaltranslation relative to the annular ring 22. More specifically, when theretention ring 60 is slid over the annular ring 22, tapered surfaces ofthe retention tabs 64 engage a distal surface or the annular ring 22such that the tabs 64 are deformed inwardly and pass over the annularring 22 until the tabs 64 become aligned with the retention slots 28.When the tabs 64 become aligned with the slots 28, the tabs 64, whichare resilient, spring outwardly into the retention slots 28 to securethe retention ring 60 about the annular ring 22. It is contemplated thatthe retention tabs 64 may also prevent distal translation of theretention ring 60 relative to the annular ring 22. The outer surface ofthe retention ring 60 may slope proximally to provide a smoothtransition from the outer surface of the shell assembly 20 to the distalend portion 110 of the adapter 102 when the distal end portion 110 isreceived within the proximal opening 21 of the shell assembly 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6-8, the assembly of the adapter 102 and theshell assembly 20 of the loading unit 10 with the locking collar 40 willbe described in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in FIG.3, the shell assembly 20 and the locking collar 40 are aligned with oneanother such that the longitudinal axis of the shell assembly 20 isaligned with the longitudinal axis of the locking collar 40. Inaddition, the locking collar 40 is rotationally aligned with the annularring 22 of the shell assembly 20 by aligning the travel rib 46 of thelocking collar 40 with the travel groove 29 of the annular ring 22. Itwill be appreciated that when the travel rib 46 and the travel groove 39are rotationally aligned, the lock 50 of the locking collar 40 issubstantially aligned with the locking slot 26 of the annular ring 22.

With the locking collar 40 and the annular ring 22 of the shell assembly20 aligned with one another, the locking collar 40 is moved distallyover the annular ring 22 such that the annular ring 22 is receivedwithin the central opening 43 of the locking collar 40. As the lockingcollar 40 is moved over the annular ring 22, the lock 50 engages theannular ring 22. Continued distal movement of the locking collar 40 overthe annular ring 22 flexes the flexible tab 44 of the locking collar 40outward such that the lock 50 of the flexible tab 44 is positioned tomove along the outer surface of the annular ring 22. With the lock 50positioned on the outer surface of the annular ring 22, the lockingcollar 40 is moved distally over the annular ring 22 until a distal endof the locking collar 40 abuts the step 23 defined by the annular ring22. In this position, the lock 50 is positioned in alignment with thelocking slot 26. When the distal end of the locking collar 40 abuts thestep 23 as shown in FIG. 6, the resilience of the flexible tab 44 movesthe lock 50 towards the longitudinal axis of the shell assembly 20 andthrough the locking slot 26 of the annular ring 22 to secure the lockingcollar 40 to the shell assembly 20 about the annular ring 22.

If the locking collar 40 is slightly misaligned with the locking slot 26with the lock 50 extending partially through the locking slot 26 of theannular ring 22, the first or longitudinal cam surface 52 of the lock 50engages walls defining the locking slot 26 to distally slide the lockingcollar 40 over the annular ring 22 and the second or radial cam surface54 of the lock 50 engages the walls defining the locking slot 26 torotate the locking collar 40 about the annular ring 22 to a lockedconfiguration as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. In the locked configuration,resilience of the flexible tab 44 urges the lock 50 through the lockingslot 26 such that the lock 50 prevents rotation of the locking collar 40about the annular ring 22 and translation of the locking collar 40relative to the annular ring 22. In the locked configuration, the travelrib 46 of the locking collar 40 is positioned on one side of the travelgroove 29 such that the travel rib 46 prevents rotation of the lockingcollar 40 about the annular ring 22 in a first direction (e.g.,clockwise as shown in FIG. 8) and allows rotation of the locking collar40 in a second direction opposite the first direction (e.g., counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8). When the locking collar 40 reaches thelocked configuration, the flexible tab 44 may provide audible indicia(e.g., a click) as the lock 50 passes through the locking slot 26.

With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the retention ring 60 issecured over a proximal end of the annular ring 22 proximal to thelocking collar 40 to prevent the locking collar 40 from slidingproximally relative to the annular ring 22. With the locking collar 40in the locked configuration, the retention ring 60 is slid distally overthe annular ring 22 such that the annular ring 22 is received within thecentral opening 62 of the retention ring 60. As the retention ring 60receives the annular ring 22, the retention tabs 64 engage the outersurface of the annular ring 22 and flex outwardly such that theretention ring 60 can pass over the annular ring 22. The retention ring60 is positioned about the annular ring 22 such that each retention tab64 is positioned within one of the retention slots 28 of the annularring 22. As the retention tabs 64 are aligned with the retention slots28, the resilience of the retention ring 60 urges the retention tabs 64through the retention slots 28 such that the retention ring 60 is in afixed configuration relative to the annular ring 22. When the retentionring 60 reaches the fixed configuration, the passage of the retentiontabs 64 through the retention slots 28 of the retention ring 60 mayprovide audible indicia (e.g., a click). In the fixed configuration ofthe retention ring 60, the retention ring 60 is rotationally andlongitudinally fixed relative to the annular ring 22. Further, in thefixed configuration, the retention ring 60 prevents the locking collar40 from sliding proximally off the annular ring 22 of the shell assembly20 but allows the locking collar 40 to rotate about the annular ring 22.

Each retention tab 64 is disposed within a respective retention slot 28;however, it is contemplated that each retention slot 28 may not receivea retention tab 64. As shown, the retention tabs 64 and the retentionslots 28 are equally spaced about the retention ring 60 and the annularring 22 respectively; however, it is contemplated that the retentiontabs 64 and the retention slots 28 may be unequally spaced about theretention ring 60 and the annular ring 22 respectively to define aradial orientation of the retention ring 60 relative to the annular ring22. The loading unit 10 is assembled when the locking collar 40 is inthe locked configuration and the retention ring 60 is in the fixedconfiguration.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 9-14, a method for securing the loadingunit 10 to the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 or surgicalinstrument is disclosed in accordance with the present disclosure.Referring initially to FIG. 6, assembled loading unit 10 is aligned withthe distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 such that the longitudinalaxis of the loading unit 10 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of theadapter 102. The loading unit 10 is then radially aligned with thedistal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 such that the key 24 of theshell assembly 22 is aligned with the keyway 114 of the distal endportion 110 as shown in FIG. 6. When the key 24 and the keyway 114 areradially aligned, the locking slot 26 of the shell assembly 22 isradially aligned with the lock window 112 of the distal end portion 110of the adapter 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, with the loading unit 10 and the distalend portion 110 of the adapter 102 aligned with one another, the loadingunit 10 is slid over the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 suchthat the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 is at least partiallydisposed within the proximal opening 21 of the shell assembly 20. As thedistal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 slides into the proximalopening 21, the key 24 slides in the keyway 114 of the distal endportion 110. Further, as the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102slides into the proximal opening 21, the distal end 110 a of the adapter102 adjacent the locking slot 112 engages the lateral cam surface 52 ofthe lock 50 to urge the lock 50 and the flexible tab 40 outward. Theloading unit 10 is slid over the distal end portion 110 of the adapter102 until the lock window 112 of the adapter 102 is longitudinallyaligned with the locking slot 26 of the annular ring 22 of the shellassembly 20. When lock window 112 and the locking slot 26 are aligned,the resilience of the flexible tab 44 urges or snaps the lock 50 throughthe lock window 112 of the adapter 102 and into the locked configurationas shown in FIG. 11. When the lock 50 reaches the locked configuration,the lock 50 may provide audible indicia (e.g., a click) to a user.

As shown in FIGS. 11-14, the loading unit 10 is secured to the distalend portion 110 of the adapter 102 when the distal end portion 110 ofthe adapter 102 is positioned within the proximal opening 21 of theshell assembly 20 with the lock 50 disposed in the lock window 112 inthe locked configuration. With the loading unit 10 secured to the distalend portion 110 of the adapter 102, the surgical instrument and loadingunit 10 may be used to perform a surgical procedure. After surgicalprocedure is completed, the loading unit 10 can be decoupled or detachedfrom the surgical instrument as will be discussed in detail below. Withthe loading unit 10 decoupled from the surgical instrument, anotherloading unit may be coupled or secured to the surgical instrument forcontinued use in the surgical procedure, the surgical instrument may besterilized for use in another surgical procedure, or the surgicalinstrument may be discarded. In addition, the loading unit 10 may besterilized for use in another surgical procedure or may be discarded.

With reference to FIGS. 15-18, a method for detaching the loading unit10 from the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 or surgicalinstrument is disclosed in accordance with the present disclosure. Todetach the loading unit 10, the body 42 of the locking collar 40 isrotated about the annular ring 22 of the shell assembly 20 such that thelock 50 is moved outward and from within of the lock window 112 of theadapter 102 to release the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102from the loading unit 10. Specifically, the body 42 of the lockingcollar 40 is rotated about the annular ring 22 in the directionindicated by arrow “R”. The outer surface of the body 42 may includeengagement features 56 to provide a clinician a grip for rotating thebody 42. With particular reference to FIGS. 16 and 17, as the body 42 isrotated in the direction of arrow “R”, the second cam surface 54 of thelock 50 engages the walls defining the locking slot 36 to move or camthe lock 50 outward to an unlocked configuration. When the lock 50 is inthe unlocked configuration, the loading unit 10 is distally slidable torelease or detach the distal end portion 110 of the adapter 102 from theloading unit 10 as shown in FIG. 18. When the loading unit 10 isdetached from the distal end portion 110, the body 42 is released suchthat the resilience of the body 42 and the flexible tab 44 return thelocking collar 40 to the locked configuration.

As the body 42 of the locking collar 40 is rotated about the distal endportion 110 of the adapter 102, the key 24 and the keyway 114 preventthe shell assembly 20 from rotating relative to the adapter 102.Further, as detailed above, the retention tabs 64 and the retentionslots 28 prevent the retention ring 60 from rotating about the shellassembly 20.

With particular reference to FIG. 16, the travel rib 46 prevents overrotation of the body 42 of the locking collar 40 about the annular ring22. Specifically, as the body 42 is rotated about the annular ring 22,the travel rib 46 moves from the fixed configuration (FIG. 13) to areleased configuration within the travel groove 29 as shown in FIG. 16.When the travel rib 46 is in the released configuration, the lock 50 isoutside of the lock window 112 of the adapter 102 and may besubstantially out of the locking slot 26 of the annular ring 22. Thetravel rib 46 prevents over rotation of the body 42 about the annularring 22 to a point where the resilience of the body 42 is unable toreturn the lock 50 to the locked configuration.

The locking collar 40 is made of a resilient material. For example, thelocking collar 12 may be formed of a resilient plastic material using aninjection molding process. However, it is contemplated the lockingcollar 40 may be formed of other suitable materials including, but notlimited to, spring steel, stainless steel, or wire.

While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in thedrawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, asit is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. Any combination ofthe above embodiments is also envisioned and is within the scope of theappended claims. The present disclosure is not limited to circularstapling loading units, but has application to loading units for linearstapling or other types of instruments, such as electrocautery orultrasonic instruments.

Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting,but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilledin the art will envision other modifications within the scope of theclaims appended hereto.

1. A loading unit comprising: a shell assembly having an annular ringdefining a proximal opening configured to receive a distal end portionof a surgical instrument, the annular ring defining a locking slot; anda locking collar rotatably disposed about the annular ring, the lockingcollar having a body including a flexible tab, the flexible tab having alock extending inwardly from the flexible tab, the locking collar beingmoveable about the annular ring between a locked configuration whereinthe lock passes through the locking slot and into the proximal openingof the annular ring and an unlocked configuration wherein the lock ismoved from within the proximal opening.
 2. The loading unit according toclaim 1, wherein the body is partially split to form the flexible tab.3. The loading unit according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface ofthe annular ring defines a groove and the locking collar includes aninwardly extending travel rib that is received within the groove.
 4. Theloading unit according to claim 3, wherein the travel rib is limits adegree of rotation of the locking collar about the annular ring.
 5. Theloading unit according to claim 1, further comprising a retention ringpositioned about the annular ring proximal of the locking collar toprevent axial movement of the locking collar relative to the annularring.
 6. The loading unit according to claim 5, wherein the retentionring includes a plurality of inwardly extending retention tabs and theannular ring defines a plurality of retention slots positionedproximally of the locking slot, each of the plurality of retention slotsbeing configured to receive a respective retention tab to fix theretention ring to the annular ring.
 7. The loading unit according toclaim 1, wherein the flexible tab is resilient and is positioned to urgethe locking collar to the locked configuration.
 8. The loading unitaccording to claim 7, wherein the lock has a longitudinal cam surfaceand a radial cam surface.
 9. The loading unit according to claim 8,wherein the radial cam surface is positioned to engage the annular ringto move the lock outward in response to rotation of the body of thelocking collar in relation to the annular ring towards the unlockedconfiguration.
 10. The loading unit according to claim 8, wherein theradial cam surface is positioned to engage the annular ring, whereinresiliency of the flexible tab causes the radial cam surface to urge thelocking collar towards the locked configuration when the lock and thelocking slot are misaligned.
 11. A surgical system comprising: asurgical instrument including a distal end portion that defines alocking window; a loading unit including a shell assembly having anannular ring defining a proximal opening, the distal end portion of thesurgical instrument received within the proximal opening, the annularring defining a locking slot; and a locking collar rotatably disposedabout the annular ring to secure the loading unit to the distal endportion of the surgical instrument, the locking collar having a bodyincluding a flexible tab, the flexible tab having a lock extendinginward from the flexible tab, the locking collar being moveable aboutthe annular ring between a locked configuration wherein the lock passesthrough the locking slot of the annular ring and the locking window ofthe distal end portion of the surgical instrument to secure the lockingcollar to the distal end portion of the surgical instrument and anunlocked configuration wherein the lock is moved from within the lockingwindow to release the loading unit from the distal end portion of thesurgical instrument.
 12. The surgical system according to claim 11,wherein the annular ring includes a key extending into the proximalopening, and wherein the distal end portion of the surgical instrumentdefines a keyway, the key parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shellassembly, the keyway parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal endportion of the surgical instrument, the key received within the keywayto rotatably fix the loading unit to the distal end portion of thesurgical instrument.
 13. The surgical system according to claim 11,wherein the lock has a longitudinal cam surface, a distal end of thesurgical instrument configured to engage the longitudinal cam surface tomove the lock outward as the distal end portion of the surgicalinstrument is received within the proximal opening until the lockingwindow is aligned with the locking slot of the annular ring.
 14. Thesurgical system according to claim 11, wherein the lock has a radial camsurface, the radial cam surface engaging the annular ring in response torotation of the body of the locking collar about the annular ring totransition the locking collar to the unlocked configuration. 15-20.(canceled)
 21. The loading unit according to claim 1, further comprisinga staple cartridge having a plurality of staples, the staple cartridgereceived within the shell assembly.
 22. The surgical system according toclaim 11, further comprising a staple cartridge having a plurality ofstaples, the staple cartridge received within the shell assembly.